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Original poster

Did you know this about the free bus travel?

196 replies

Rae36 · 02/01/2022 21:53

Everyone aged between 5 and 21 needs to apply for a new Young Scot entitlement card (NEC) to qualify for free travel. Existing ones won't work.

But you can't apply yet, you have to wait for Transport Scotland to tell you how to do it.

So that's 900,000 people needing issued with a new card before 31st January so they can get the bus for free. Oh but you can't apply in plenty of time, right now you can't apply at all.

young.scot/the-young-scot-card

I should have put this on the railing thread because I'm majorly ranty about it, but I thought more people might spot it this way.

OP posts:
User237845 · 02/02/2022 16:16

I think doing the Yoti thing speeds it up. I didn't like the idea of another organisation having biometric data of my dc but did it for one in desperation after their application was rejected and it was very speedy. You should be able to delete your data from Yoti once the card is safely in your hands!

My timeline was 10 Jan applied for DC1, 11 Jan applied for DC 2 and 3.

23rd Jan: DC1s application rejected
24th Jan:DC1 application resubmitted using Yoti
27th Jan: DC 2 and 3 application approved
28th Jan: DC1 approved
29th Jan: received DC 1 and 3 cards Hmm
1 Feb: received DC 2 card

tigger1001 · 02/02/2022 16:32

@trulyconfuseddotcom

Did anyone's child use their new pass today, did it work? Mine forgot it started today so I don't know if it does, gah!
My eldest got his pass yesterday and used it last night with no issue
tigger1001 · 02/02/2022 16:36

@User48751490

It's a complete swizz. Loads of other posters have found the process a breeze though. What's the secret?🤔
Think it maybe depends on age of kids. Mine are between 12-15 so I need to be id'd and only one of the kids has the correct id to be able to do it online. If over 16 it's only the person applying who has to be id'd.

Took me hours to get through the application form for my eldest. But he now has his bus pass. Haven't done youngest yet as I haven't got the correct id to do his online

Original poster
Rae36 · 02/02/2022 21:04

Ds tried to use his tonight. Didn't work. Driver let him on anyway. On the way home driver just waved him on without trying to scan it. I'm hoping it's a temporary bus problem and not a card problem, I couldn't face applying again

OP posts:
Pinkymcperky · 02/02/2022 21:49

I haven’t heard anything either way about DCs and am not sure how to check as I did it via the library thinking it would be less likely to be rejected

User48751490 · 10/02/2022 21:39

6yo application was accepted. Unfortunately 11yo and 14yo applications were rejected.

I have to contact the local authority to find out an alternative way of applying. Done this. Awaiting response.

WeAllHaveWings · 10/02/2022 22:25

Ds's school have sent a message out saying all cards ordered through the school have now been delivered and the last should be handed out this week.

ParkheadParadise · 10/02/2022 22:30

Got forms sent from school.
Received dd's bus pass within a week.

User48751490 · 11/02/2022 07:10

Everyone seems to be finding this really easy yet others not having the same experience. It would have made more sense for the local authorities to issue bus passes to all children.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 11/02/2022 07:29

Still waiting to hear about our second application after being rejected the first time for a reason that was simply untrue. Sigh. Thankfully DS just qualified for a school bus pass and this is still working. I'd be really miffed if I was forking out for bus fares to school while we waited.

User48751490 · 11/02/2022 07:30

I know you can get a form from the high schools but I have one child who isn't at high school yet so would rather do both applications at the same time.

WeAllHaveWings · 11/02/2022 07:42

@User48751490

I know you can get a form from the high schools but I have one child who isn't at high school yet so would rather do both applications at the same time.
If your high school is doing applications and you are struggling to get it through the normal application process it would surely make sense to go the easy route for one of them?

The school form needs no id as they obviously know your child already, just a picture.

User48751490 · 11/02/2022 08:58

WeAllHaveWings looks like I may end up going down that route for the 14yo. The 11yo will have to wait until August when they start S1!

User48751490 · 11/02/2022 09:13

His high school is doing Young Scot application forms.

Absofruitly · 11/02/2022 12:32

Has anyone who applied through their local library received their card yet? My younger son (primary age) received his card within a fortnight of an online application but my older son (secondary age) had to apply via the library as he had no photo ID and we still haven't received his card. The application went in at the library four weeks ago and nothing received so far.

User48751490 · 11/02/2022 19:39

@Absofruitly

Has anyone who applied through their local library received their card yet? My younger son (primary age) received his card within a fortnight of an online application but my older son (secondary age) had to apply via the library as he had no photo ID and we still haven't received his card. The application went in at the library four weeks ago and nothing received so far.
I wasn't aware you could go through the local library if you have no photo ID. Is that for all regions of Scotland?

I was in touch with my local Young Scot office and they didn't say anything about this.

LargeProsecco · 13/02/2022 07:41

I went to the local library last week, with our out of date passports. The staff were so helpful. A totally painless process

The cards arrrived in the post exactly a week later.

Didn't even bother with online.

Mindtheears · 15/02/2022 11:35

I also applied via the library. Did it around the first week of January (it was before 10/01 and the guy who filled the form it said he’d wait until then to send it). Heard nothing back and I have no idea how to check or make contact with anyone. I’ll have to go to the library to see if anyone can tell me what to do.

Absofruitly · 15/02/2022 14:19

I went back to the library to chase them up and they said a bunch of the applications they scanned off to the central bus pass hub at the council never made it through and they're only finding out now! What a pain. So they're scanning my son's application off again and I'm keeping everything crossed it gets through this time. Meanwhile still paying out for his bus pass when I thought I'd be saving that £26 a month by now.

Mindtheears · 15/02/2022 14:55

I’m a bit concerned my DD’s friends get their cards first and start hopping on and off buses when she still has to pay. There was a “Just get off the bus and wait for us” conversation the other day and I’m nervous she could end up getting left by herself.

OwlMother · 15/02/2022 22:11

Scotrail website says that if the young Scot card has a pink strip over the DOB then it has the chip. Does anyone know if this is definitely the case? DS2 got his young Scot card late last year and it has the pink strip but I assumed we needed a new one ( because YS website said so!) Am having all sorts of issues getting it reissued so it would be great if this is the case.

User48751490 · 16/02/2022 17:17

Well DS has come home from school with the form, so I have filled it in and he will hand it back tomorrow. I take it they use the pupil photos from the school database to send off with the form?

LateOnTheBandwagon · 17/02/2022 11:01

The pink strip just means it has got A chip (the older ones pre-2014ish didn't have any chip and couldn' be used once transport went "digital"). The pink strip ones will still be accepted for other discounts, including Scotrail, but you will need a new one with a new chip to access the free bus travel.

Mountaingoat12 · 17/02/2022 11:32

Stupid question - if applying at a library do you need to take your kids or just their ID? Trying to find a time that suits my work and library opening times and school hours is tricky.

LargeProsecco · 17/02/2022 12:06

Yes @Mountaingoat12 - you do- proof of address - I was told drivers licence, utility bill, bank statement etc.

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